Page 1 of 3
1
The United States
Continues to Expand
MAIN IDEA
WHY IT MATTERS NOW
The United States expanded its
interest in world affairs and acquired
new territories.
During this period, the United States
acquired Alaska and Hawaii as
territories.
TERMS & NAMES
imperialism
William Seward
ONE AMERICAN’S STORY
CALIFORNIA STANDARDS
Alfred T. Mahan served in the U.S. Navy for
CST3 Students use a variety of
maps and documents to identify
physical and cultural features of
neighborhoods, cities, states, and
countries and to explain the historical migration of people, expansion
and disintegration of empires, and
the growth of economic systems.
nearly 40 years. In the 1890s, he wrote
several books on the historical importance of
sea power, trading stations, and colonies.
A V O I C E F R O M T H E PA S T
The trading-station . . . [was] the same as the . . .
colony. In both cases the mother-country had
won a foothold in a foreign land, seeking a
new outlet for what it had to sell, a new sphere
for its shipping, more employment for its
people, and more comfort and wealth for itself.
A. T. Mahan, The Influence of Sea Power upon
History, 1660–1805
Queen
Liliuokalani
REP3 Students distinguish relevant
information, essential from incidental information, and verifiable from
unverifiable information in historical narratives and stories.
Naval historian Alfred
Thayer Mahan at the turn
of the century
HI2 Students understand and distinguish cause, effect, sequence, and
correlation in historical events,
including the long- and short-term
causal relations.
Mahan encouraged government officials to build up American naval
forces. In this section you will learn how the United States
began to extend its influence beyond the national boundaries.
Reasons for U.S. Expansion
Americans had always sought to expand the size of their nation.
Throughout the 19th century, they extended their control toward the
Pacific Coast. By the 1880s, however, many leaders became convinced
that the United States should join the imperialist powers of Europe and
establish colonies overseas. Imperialism—the policy by which stronger
nations extend their economic, political, or military control over weaker
territories—was a trend around the world.
European nations had been establishing colonies for centuries. In the
late 19th century, Africa became a major area of European expansion. By
the early 20th century, only two countries in Africa—Ethiopia and
Liberia—remained independent.
Imperialist countries also competed for territory in Asia, especially in
China. There, European nations had to compete with Japan, which had
also become a world power by the end of the 1800s.
Taking Notes
Use your chart to
take notes about
the reasons for U.S.
expansion overseas.
Reasons
for U.S.
Expansion
Overseas
Becoming a World Power
659
Page 2 of 3
Most Americans gradually came to approve of the idea of expansion
overseas. Three factors helped to fuel the development of American
imperialism.
1. Economic Interests. Economic leaders argued that expansion
would increase U.S. financial prosperity. Industry had greatly
expanded after the Civil War. Many industrialists saw new
colonies as a potential source of cheap raw materials. Agriculture
had also expanded. Farmers pointed out that colonies would mean
new markets for their products.
2. Military Interests. In his books, Alfred T. Mahan had argued that
economic interests went hand-in-hand with military interests.
Foreign policy experts agreed. They urged U.S. leaders to follow
the European example and establish a military presence overseas.
3. Belief in Cultural Superiority. Many Americans believed that
their government, religion, and even race were superior to those of
other societies. Some people hoped to spread democratic ideas
overseas. Others saw a chance to advance Christianity. Racist ideas
about the inferiority of the nonwhite populations in many foreign
countries were also used to justify American imperialism.
Each of these developments—economic interests, military interests,
and a belief in cultural superiority—led the United States to a larger role
on the world stage.
Skillbuilder
Answers
1. Russia
2. Oahu
A. Making
Inferences Why
might economic
and military
interests go hand
in hand?
A. Possible
Response If a
country’s economic interests
were threatened,
the military
would be needed
to protect them.
Seward and Alaska
100°W
120°W
140°W
160°W
180°
Alaska, 1867 & Hawaii, 1898
RUSSIA
United States and
its possessions
Arctic Circle
Alaska, 1867
60°N
PACIFIC
OCEAN
40°N
Hawaiian Islands, 1898
Kauai
Oahu
Molokai
Maui
Pearl
Harbor
NORTH
AMERICA
UNITED
STATES
Hawaii
Tropic of Cancer
20°N
0
0
2,000 Miles
4,000 Kilometers
GEOGRAPHY SKILLBUILDER
Interpreting Maps
0° Alaska?
Equator
1. Location What country lies to the west of
2. Location On which Hawaiian island is Pearl Harbor?
660
A strong backer of expansion was
William Seward, Secretary of State
under presidents Abraham Lincoln
and Andrew Johnson. Seward made
his biggest move in 1867, when he
arranged the purchase of Alaska
from Russia.
Not everyone was pleased by
Seward’s move, though. At the time,
the $7.2-million deal was widely criticized. Newspapers called Alaska a
“Polar Bear Garden” and “Seward’s
Icebox.” Even so, the purchase of the
resource-rich territory turned out to be
a great bargain for the United States.
Throughout his career, Seward
continued to pursue new territory.
Before he retired in 1869, he considered acquiring the Hawaiian Islands, a
group of volcanic and coral islands in
the central Pacific Ocean. That would
not happen, however, for almost 30
more years.
Background
In the late 1800s,
large gold fields
were discovered
in Alaska. The
territory was also
rich in fur-bearing
animals, timber,
copper, coal,
and oil.
Page 3 of 3
The Annexation of Hawaii
B. Reading a Map
Locate the
Hawaiian Islands
on the map on
page 660.
Vocabulary
annex: to add
Section
1
In the early 1800s, Christian missionaries from the
United States had moved to the Kingdom of Hawaii to
convert the local population. Some of the missionaries’
descendants started sugar plantations. By the late 1800s,
wealthy planters dominated Hawaii’s economy.
In 1891, Queen Liliuokalani (lee•LEE•oo•oh•kah•
LAH•nee) became the leader of Hawaii. Believing that
planters had too much influence, she wanted to limit their
power. Around the same time, U.S. trade laws changed to
favor sugar grown exclusively in American states.
American planters in Hawaii were upset by these
threats to their political and economic interests. In
January 1893, they staged a revolt. With the help of
U.S. Marines, they overthrew the queen and set up their
own government. They then asked to be annexed by the
United States.
U.S. leaders already understood the value of the
islands. In 1887, they had pressured Hawaii to allow a
U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, the kingdom’s best port.
The base became an important refueling station for
American merchant and military ships bound for Asia.
Thus, when President Benjamin Harrison received
the planters’ request in 1893, he gave his approval and
sent a treaty to the Senate. But before the Senate could
act, Grover Cleveland became president. He did not
approve of the planters’ actions and withdrew the treaty.
Hawaii would not be annexed until 1898, during the
Spanish-American War. In the next section, you will
read about the events that led to that war.
QUEEN LILIUOKALANI
1838–1917
As a young princess, Liliuokalani
received a Western education and
toured the world. Although she
learned about many cultures, she
remained committed to Hawaii.
An excellent musician, she wrote
the famous Hawaiian song
“Aloha Oe [Farewell to Thee].”
She was the first queen of
Hawaii and proved to be a good
leader. She resisted the foreign
takeover of Hawaii and inspired
a revolt against the planters. Only
in 1895, when the safety of her
supporters was threatened, did
she agree to give up her throne.
How did Queen Liliuokalani
protect her followers after
planters seized power?
Assessment
1. Terms & Names
2. Using Graphics
3. Main Ideas
4. Critical Thinking
Explain the
significance of:
Use a chart like the one
shown to record causes of
U.S. expansion overseas in
the late 1800s.
a. Where was the focus of
U.S. expansion before the
late 1800s? (HI1)
Making Inferences What
benefits were American
planters looking for when
they staged a revolt in 1893?
(REP5)
• imperialism
• William Seward
• Queen Liliuokalani
Causes
Effect
United
States
expansion
Which was the most important cause? (HI2)
b. How did William Seward
contribute to U.S. expansion?
(HI1)
c. Why did the American
planters’ request for the
annexation of Hawaii fail
in the early 1890s? (HI1)
THINK ABOUT
• the new policies of Queen
Liliuokalani
• changes in U.S. trade laws
ACTIVITY OPTIONS
TECHNOLOGY
ART
Read more about Hawaii’s Queen Liliuokalani. Outline a video presentation
on the overthrow of the queen or plan a mural that depicts the event. (HI1)
Becoming a World Power
661